A Statement of Christian Doctrine

Society creates its own religions when groups of people disagree and place their own interpretation of the Holy Word of God into their own doctrine. The people of the early Roman Empire from the first century AD who did not follow Christ dubbed those people who followed Christ with the name Christian. Throughout the decades any denomination that declared Jesus as the Son of the virgin Mary, the Son of God, was categorized as Christian. Society must step back and view the doctrines of some of these denominations. Praying to God with Jesus as the Mediator is Christianity. Praying to God through other means or persons is not.

"I am a Christian." This statement when uttered in the presence of a diverse group can bring about a varying degree of change in attitude. The feeling in a room can waft between the comfortable warmness of those interested and the icy coolness of those who are not. A room can carry an almost unbearable tense aloofness. Or a room can become electrified when some raise their backs in defensive combat against what they term a "Bible thumper". One religious person will tell you that in Matthew it speaks of a World War 111. Another will tell you that the same passage prophesied World War 1 and 11. I tell you it is history established in the First Century with the Fall of Jerusalem. How do I know this to be the truth?

It is not the Holy Word written in our Holy Bible that is contradictory, but rather the interpretations that are put on it. There are many people who are not receiving the chance to know God because they are being led astray by many who call themselves Christian. Is this why we hear of so many un-Christian Christians? Is this why Christianity has acquired a bad reputation in a "Christian" world?

I am a Christian. That is my statement. I believe the Bible to be the Word of God. For me, a Christian is someone who knows Jesus is the only Mediator between mankind and God. For me, a Christian follows God's Word as It is written in every verse recorded in the Holy Bible. I do not follow one part of the written Word because it can be made to fit in with my lifestyle and ignore the other Books of the Bible because they expect a lot more of me. I try to the best of my ability to follow all of God's Word. Christians follow God's Word faithfully and shape their lifestyle around His Word.

I am not the first, and won't be the last, to acknowledge that following the path of Righteousness by God's Word is the easiest path to follow. As mere man we are bound to stray once in awhile, but God forgives if we truly are remorseful.

How can you distinguish a true Christian from one who thinks he/she is a Christian?

The most frequently heard statements:

1. THE CHURCH - God's Church is a place where two or more meet in His name and have fellowship in His presence. The elders of a church that has many members are there to see that the congregation remains on the Holy path to God. The congregation is those who are truly after the Spirit of God. These people submit to the authority of the Lord through the Laws of God through baptism by complete immersion in water and with the Lord's Supper.

But several churches in our society today have their own doctrine that they follow and each church claims to be the only right church. How do we know which church is the right church? How can there be so many different churches with different doctrines when there is only One God? It deeply saddens me when an elder or a leader of a church exerts his authority to change the written Word to accommodate special interest groups. I became even more disillusioned with a certain group of men of the cloth when they deviated off course and agreed to switch our origin from Creation to evolution just because the majority of people believe such. How can the elders of a church take away from or add to the scriptures? It then becomes man's word, not God's Word.
Unfortunately,in a situation as this, the tables turn, and a few people of the congregation then try to dictate to the church leaders how they feel the Bible should be interpreted. Politics should not enter into God's Word.

One day He will bring to Himself in heaven all believers throughout the age, from the beginning of mankind to the Second Coming, the living and the living of the dead. This gathering of the believers in heaven and earth is the Body of Christ, and His Bride. He is the Head of the Body and the Cornerstone of His Church.

References: 1 Corinthians 12:12-14; Ephesians 1:22; 5:23; Luke 20:17; Ephesians2:20-22.

2. GOD - The Bible teaches there is one God. There are those who can not believe that God exists because they cannot see Him. Yet, they do believe that there must be some sort of power out there. Just not God!

The Bible teaches that God is Omnipotent, Omnipresent, and Infinitely Holy. There are those who question His whereabouts when all around us lay confusion, sorrow, pain and suffering.

There is one God, and He is everywhere at once. We cannot blame Him for the misfortunes that occur on earth. The Bible teaches us that God exists as three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. The three are One in substance, power and glory, holiness, purpose and will. There are those who only see three separate entities. They cannot see the Father and the Son as being both the Father and both the Son. Nor do they understand how God can be the Holy Spirit. God is God. Jesus is God. The Holy Spirit is God. But there is only One God. Therefore, God is God. God is Jesus. And God is the Holy Spirit. God is the One who gives and sustains life. He is the One who introduces us to faith through human means. He is the One who guides this faith and us to maturity. But, "Who is God?" is still the most frequently asked question.

References: Genesis 1:1, 2, 26; Genesis 17:1; Deuteronomy 4:35; 6:4-5; Psalm 139; Isaiah 44:6-8; Colossians 1:16-17; 2:9.

But, you ask, because of all the propaganda in the world, and with the way many have tried to discredit the Bible as being God's Word, how can I be sure this is God? How do I know there is God? By studying ancient history side-by-side with biblical history I can say I know that God exists.



3. JESUS CHRIST - The Bible teaches that Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary, the only "begotten" Son of God, the Holy Spirit. There are those who do not believe. It is truly difficult to believe that one can be born of a virgin. It isn't being done today, how could it have been done in the past? Remember that with God everything is possible.

The Bible shows how during His ministry on this earth He was the truest servant before God and man. In His death He was the sacrificial Lamb for sinful man. There are those who ask why God would have His own Son's Life taken on the Cross. Jesus knew from the beginnng what His purpose was. He referred to His death often throughout His ministry.

The Bible teaches that He is mankind's Savior from sin for all who believe through His name. He provided the way to God through Himself. The Bible teaches that He raised Himself from the dead, ascended to the Father and will return bodily to judge the living and the dead. Too many people believe this on blind faith, the remainder scoff at such a notion. I believe through factual historical evidence, both biblical and secular.

The Bible teaches that He now sits at the right hand of God interceding for believers. He is the only Mediator between God and man, the only Savior, the Head of the church and the only Lord of the household of God. He eternally existed with the Father and the Holy Spirit. He is ALL God and ALL Man. This is very difficult for many to fathom. For them it is much easier to call Jesus a myth. A mythical person is a fictious person; an imaginary person. Jesus was real. He is found in a time place dimension where events occurred because of His miracles. And without the preceding events, the miracles would not have occurred. Jesus is the centre of life in the first years of the First Century AD.

References: 1 Timothy 3:16; 20:28; Colossians 1:19; 2:9; 1 John 5:7; Philippians 2:7-8; John 1:14; Isaiah 7:14 with Matthew 1:23; (see 18-23); Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Matthew 7:33-35; Romans 3:24-25; Hebrews 9:28; 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; Romans 4:25; Luke 24:6-7; Colossians 3:1; Acts 1:9; 1 Timothy 2:5; 1 John 2:1; Hebrews 7:25; 4:14-16; Ephesians 2;8-9; Hebrews 9:22; John 1:12.

I know Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus is our Lord and Savior. How do I know?